Oregon Marijuana Initiative

I’m on the record saying the tax structure of the marijuana initiative in Oregon is a step forward.

Kopilak said the initiative reflects the work of not only advocates but also national tax experts, including Pat Oglesby, chief tax counsel on the U.S. Senate Finance Committee from 1988 and 1990.

On Oglesby’s advice, New Approach Oregon opted to tax marijuana by weight early in the production process instead of at the retail end. Washington, by comparison, taxes marijuana at three levels, from producer to processor, processor to retailer and retailer to consumer.

I’m not endorsing the rate or level of tax. I suspect this tax rate, like others, will prove too high at first, too low later.